Evolution of a Chicago Dance

Steppin is a derivative of several African American dance forms, The Ring-Shout, The Cakewalk, The Jitterbug, The Swing, The Offtime, The Bop, and The New Bop in particular.

A dance consists of two or more people dancing as partners in synchronization to a 6 or 8 count beat to musical sounds of jazz, soul, Funk, R & B, Neo Soul, or Rapp music. 

Steppin is currently one of the most popular aspects of America's social climate, gaining popularity at a very fast pace, to manifest itself in many major cities, Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta, Houston, Milwaukee, LA, Oakland, Seattle and other heavy populated areas . 

Attire consists of a form of rag time, black tie, and modern fashion twist to a unique style, modern design, better known as Steppers Sharp usually reflecting a combination of times throughout African American history, gouyster in particular.

A dance form very popular throughout Chicago's African American community. A dance of unity and positive atmosphere, currently enjoyed and adopted by people throughout American society in relation to Hand dancing, Ballroom, The Swing, Steppin, and Bop. 

Steppin originated in Chicago's African American community as a dance, formerly known as BOP, a smooth quiet dance, posture, gliding, dipping and dabbing to music by popular African American big bands and vocal groups in the late 50s and early 60 ' markets. Events to be held in places like Chicago's Savoy, The Club Delisa, The Time Square, Checkerboard, etc. There was also the famous rent party, quarterly party, waist line party, or basement party at smaller neighborhood scales.

There were two select groups of Chicago boppers in the late 50s and early 60s, as most would agree to pay the fore founders of Steppin. They were called Gousters and Ivy League; young African Americans from Chicago's west and south side communities, separated only by fashion and styles of dance. Gousters was cool and suave with a decided fashion from the notorious Gangsters of the 40's and 50's, baggy suits and pleated trousers, cool, calm and collective. Ivy Leaquers was kind of prep school look, stove pipe pants, crew cuts, knit shirts, Harvard, Yale, Princeton or prototypes.

BOP was the most popular dance in Chicago and often shared the stage with the popularity of individual dances like the Twist, The Monkey, The Genesis of potatoes Twine Time, etc. It also had The Walk, a slower version of the BOP. The intimate side of things, really one of the most graceful aspects of Steppin one could ever witness, and many around Chicago say actually existed before Bop. The fact is that Walk remains a large part of Chicago Steppin and continues to exist as the intimate part of the dance. 

BOP remained popular throughout the '60s until the Vietnam War and the invasion of love, peace, Flower Power, and the Mod era. In addition, public protest, the advancing forces of the civil rights movement and racial tensions emerged around the country, which helped force African American dance and music to make drastic changes throughout society. Songs reflected the times of war, to civil rights, revolution or protest rather than dance. It was actually fashionable and popular to listen to music instead of dancing. This is followed by the threat of revolution of the so-called black militants, the sexual revolution, integration and policy BOP pushed deep into the African American neighborhoods in which it existed as a mere shadow, but continued to survive until it resurfaced in popularity in mid-70s. It returned with a faster tempo and a more entertaining presence. It had to contend with the presence of Disco invasion.

In the late 70s when Disco was a sudden drop in popularity, and each dancer as Spank the adz etc. dominated the social sphere, the balance again fell deeply in the shadow of African American social atmosphere. This time it lasted well into the 80s, when Bop got a facelift, a new identity and a new name today known as Steppin. It was a new sound of music is exclusively reserved for Steppin, a new identity, a high fashion, a smooth beat and a cool and smooth about it like never before. The African American community quickly adopted Steppin as tradition and culture much like the Blues, Jazz and R & B in relation to its history, and with the growing popularity of clubs like the notorious Mr Ricky's Chic Ric's where Steppin Steppers and was immediately embraced the social elite. Steppin swept Chicago's African American social scene with a fury that has persisted for decades, never fail to change with the music and the times or be face with the threat of slipping back into the shadow of the African American social life. This is really a dance of changing music and times with a deep story that seems to survive where other dance forms failed.

When we look at Steppin, we see fashion rag from time to today, when we listen to what we hear music from big band days until Rapp artist and contemporary artist today, when we perform it, we move with grace Swing , The Jitterbug, The Walk, and Bop when we feel what we feel through 4-5 generations, we look at almost all major Steppers events, enjoying themselves as one body.

Steppin is the story of an African American dance. It is the social history of Chicago's African American social life. Its Jazz of Ballroom dancing, and story of the development of an African American dance as it traveled roads in the African American experience. It is in fact, African American social history, conveyed through dancing.